Because 2016 is terrible and the 2016 Met Gala is super soon we have decided to go back and take a look at the galas from 2003 – 2012 because nothing is more fun than looking at OLD fashion. For more fashion fun, we have previously covered the galas from 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Paul Poiret – who at the height of his career in pre-World War I France was the undisputed “King of Fashion” and whose sweeping vision led to a new silhouette that liberated women from the corset and introduced the shocking colors and exotic references of the Ballets Russes to the haute couture

I actually went to this exhibit the first time I ever visited New York City and then received the coffee table book from the exhibit for Christmas. But before all that I loved Paul Poiret because of his Tom Tierney paper doll book (why yes I am a super fan) I have had since High School. Poiret was less interested in tailoring and more interested in draping, because of this many of his designs are loose which was very from turn of the century clothes. One of his chief passions was the theater and he designed costumes for the theater and ballet. This theatricality flowed to his clothes as well. Lastly Poiret loved bright vivid colors. Here is a collage of Poiret designs.

Jennifer Hudson

Scarlett Johansson, Stella McCartney, and Amber Valletta

Scarlet’s dress is way too small and is she wearing fishnets? I don’t understand Stella’s outfit. Amber usually goes over the top so I’m disappointed BUT she does look lovely and I think I might adore her earrings. -K

Amber must hang out with them so she looks better in comparison, in her WELL-FITTED gown without an unnecessary jacket on top. -M

Emily Mortimer

This dress is hilarious. I kind of want to cut off those bath scrubs hanging off the bottom and remove the medallion on her belt I’m not sure that would make it less comical. -K

I have loved her for so many years due to her performance in one of my favorite movies, Lovely & Amazing. I feel I need to share this before I question what the hell she was thinking with all the loofahs. -M

Jessica Simpson

One of our other posts Jessica looked classy and now here she back to her sexy vamp self. I might have gotten behind the shine if it weren’t for the hip area looking kind of see-through (I actually think it’s reflecting the carpet). -K

Because 2016 is terrible and the 2016 Met Gala is super soon we have decided to go back and take a look at the galas from 2003 – 2012 because nothing is more fun than looking at OLD fashion. For more fashion fun, we have previously covered the galas from 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

In 2006, the theme was AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.From the Met site:

AngloMania focuses on British fashion from 1976 to 2006, a period of astounding creativity and experimentation. Over the past thirty years, British fashion has been defined by a knowing and self-conscious historicism. In their search for novelty, designers have looked to past styles with an appetite that is as audacious as it is rapacious. Focusing on their postmodern, historicizing tendencies, this exhibition presents a series of tableaux based on Britain’s rich artistic traditions. The irony of satirical prints, the romance of landscape paintings, and the glamour and bravado of grand manner portraits are evoked through a wide spectrum of British designers. The exhibition is set in the Metropolitan Museum’s English period rooms—the Annie Laurie Aitken Galleries—to create a potent dialogue between the past and the present.

My initial reaction is that there will be lots of plaid, Vivian Westwood, hats, McQueen realness, and loud prints. Unfortunately all it will take to be minimally on theme is to wear a British designer and it’s too much work to find out that information since none of my cheating blogs were around then. [Note: the were NO HATS. Maybe they weren’t allowed?]

Gina Gershon

Ginnfer Goodwin

I wish this was the color of Linda Evangelista’s gown but otherwise it is really working for me–though I WILL say it directly references one of the dresses in the collage above (top row, third from the right), which I always appreciate. Great dramatic makeup, too. -M

Ginnifer Goodwin is so pretty and she really has fun at the Met Gala. -K

Karolina Kurkova

This is EXACTLY what I was expecting from one of the models and it pleases me greatly. -M

Oh man PLAID! MIXING PATTERNS! I had to explain that this is currently on trend and something one could do, to my mom this wekend –she dug it. I appreciate the skirt of this so much. Also it’s my favorite fabric taffeta! -K

Because 2016 is terrible and the 2016 Met Gala is super soon we have decided to go back and take a look at the galas from 2003 – 2012 because nothing is more fun than looking at OLD fashion. For more fashion fun, we have previously covered the galas from 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Nearly 34 years after the passing of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, the spirit of the house of Chanel will be manifested this spring in an extraordinary presentation of iconic fashions from Coco Chanel to Karl Lagerfeld.

To help us assess the theme I have coined the acronym WWCD or What Would Coco Do? and I will base this on my Tom Tierney Coco Chanel paper doll book, Chanel Fashion Review. Here is a collage of all the ways the attendees could have explored the theme.

Their is so much to work with here, including shiny satin, Grecian inspired gowns, embroidery and ruffles, HATS, stoles, CAPES, and everyone’s favorite color black –in fact it was Coco who “invented” the little black dress, seen above in two versions night and day (bottom row, right two images). She also created the women’s suit. The woman was kind of a fashion genius (and possibly a Nazi spy).

Erika Christensen

Jennifer Connelly

I don’t often appreciate Connelly’s style and if this were another event I would be kind of meh about this BUT it’s on theme and plays with the theme. I also love it when people experiment with length and get it right. Her shoes are great as well. -K

If I had a minor quip it’s that I wish she had done something to her hair, but otherwise she looks great. -M